Article June 9, 2014 Issue

One God unifies and heals

Diane Mueller Hoisel Wanger

Mary Baker Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself;’ annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed” (p. 340).

What a powerful statement! I have always been in awe of it, but I must confess that, while I believed that all things are possible to God, I felt that the statement was a bit on the optimistic side. Then I had an experience that considerably changed my viewpoint.

Several years ago my husband suddenly passed on. We had a small service business, and I found myself in the position of having to complete several projects on my own. Not only did I feel a great sense of loss, but I also really didn’t know how I could carry on. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to. Life didn’t seem worth living anymore. But I had grown up in Christian Science and knew that God was my life. I had experienced many healings, and had a deep love of God. Still, the grief and sense of loss seemed overwhelming. With the help of a devoted Christian Science practitioner, I found the strength to carry on.